FSC Interpretations Trademark 2017 06 28

Interpretations of the normative
framework
TRADEMARK
28 JUNE 2017

Table of content

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FSC-STD-50-001 (V1-2) REQUIREMENTS FOR USE OF THE FSC TRADEMARKS
BY CERTIFICATE HOLDERS
Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_21
Clause 1.1, 1.16, 11.4, 11.6, 11.7, FAQ #21

24 June 2016

Is it acceptable to use the FSC trademarks as segregation marks? And does the
segregation mark need to be approved by a certification body prior to use?
Yes, the FSC trademarks may be used for the purpose of identifying FSC certified materials
in the chain of custody before the products are finished: FSC treats this as a segregation
mark. These segregation marks for internal use should be reproduced in such a way that they
comply as closely as possible with the standard FSC-STD-50-001. It is not required to submit
segregation marks to the certification body for approval prior to use. All segregation marks
shall be removed before the products go to the final point of sale, or are delivered to noncertified organizations.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_17
Clause 1.4
11 April 2014

A Certificate Holder has certification for chain of custody with controlled wood

included in their certificate scope. According to FSC-STD-50-001 V1-2 clause 1.4 it is
not allowed to use FSC trademarks to promote FSC Controlled Wood. Is it allowed to
publish the certificate document issued by the certification body on the website when
the controlled wood scope is mentioned on it?
The certificate document with controlled wood in the scope may be published online or
displayed on a wall in public.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_9
Clause 1.6
07 February 2012

When a printed publication is FSC labeled, is it allowed to print calculations on savings
on environmental resources based on the choice of paper?
The calculations may be printed provided the following conditions to reduce the risk of
confusion are met:
a.) There shall be no reference to FSC within these calculations

b.) A reference to the party responsible for the calculation shall be provided

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c.) Calculations may not be placed in a way which implies connection to FSC. If it is not
possible to place the calculations anywhere but close to FSC label (exclusion zone shall be
always respected), there shall be a disclaimer: "FSC is not responsible for any calculations
on saving resources by choosing this paper."

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_12
Clause 1.15
27 June 2012

Can the FSC initials be used vertically as required in the traditional way of writing in
Asian nations? If so, should the registration status symbol go on the top right corner
(alongside F), or bottom right corner (alongside C)?

F
S
C
Yes, it is possible to use the FSC initials vertically when used in the traditional way of writing
for Asian nations. The registration status symbol may be used in superscript font in both, the
top right corner (alongside F), or bottom right corner (alongside C) as preferred.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_13
Clause 1.15, Annex 1
29 May 2013 (Updated 29 July 2016)

Which trademark symbol should be used when creating on product labels, promotional
panels or in any other use for Russian and CIS markets?
The symbol ® or ™ may not be used for unregistered trademarks in Russia and the following
CIS countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and
Uzbekistan.

Therefore, no symbol may be used next to the initials “FSC” when creating on-product labels,
promotional panels or in any other use for Russia, until the initials “FSC” are successfully
registered. The symbol ® shall continue to be used for the FSC logo (checkmark-and-tree)
and the name “Forest Stewardship Council”.
No symbol may be used next to the FSC logo, the initials “FSC” and the name “Forest
Stewardship Council” when creating on-product labels, promotional panels or in any other use
for the aforementioned CIS countries, until the trademarks are registered.

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Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_14
Clauses 1.15, 7.5, Annex 1
17 October 2013

Is an exception for the omission of the use of trademark registration symbol in
promotional texts related to FSC on invoice templates, delivery notes and similar

documents possible if the software that an organization uses to produce these
documents does not support trademark registration symbols in texts?
NOTE: The use of trademark registration symbol is not required for FSC claims nor for the
disclaimer / statement specified in requirement 7.5 of FSC-STD-50-001 V1-2.
The omission of the use of trademark registration symbol in promotional texts related to FSC
on invoice templates, delivery notes and similar documents is possible if the software used to
produce these documents does not support trademark registration symbols. This exception
only applies to the use of the trademark registration symbol for the initials “FSC” and the name
“Forest Stewardship Council”.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_16
Clause 1.15
11 April 2014

Is the registration or trademark symbol required when initials “FSC” are used for
claims on invoices as required by FSC-STD-40-004 V2-1?

The registration symbol is not required for making FSC claims or for displaying the FSC
certificate code on invoices or delivery documents as defined in FSC-STD-40-004 V2-1 clause
6.1.1. The registration symbol is required for any other use of initials “FSC” on documents.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_19
Clause 1.15, Annex 1
31 August 2014

In January 2014 FSC reverted a change made to Annex 1 to the attributed trademark
symbol for the FSC trademarks in Hong Kong. The trademark symbol changed from ®
back to TM. Does this affect the production of already approved artwork?
Companies affected by this change which have approved artwork with the ® registered
trademark symbol for distribution in Hong Kong may continue to produce, distribute and sell
into the market product using the registered trademark symbol on the FSC trademarks for a
period of 12 months, expiring 1 September 2015, with an additional liquidation period of six
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months which shall expire 1 March 2016. All new artwork sent for approval shall use the
trademark symbol TM.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_20
Clause 1.15, Annex 1
11 February 2015

Does publishing an update to Annex 1 have an effect on already approved artwork?
And is there a transition period for changing from one symbol to the other?
Updates to Annex 1 are effective immediately. However, all products and promotional
materials using previously approved artwork may continue in production and distribution. The
change in the symbol shall be implemented when the artwork is up for next revision, unless
this takes place during the transition period. During the transition period of 12 months either
the old or the new symbol may be used. The transition period is aiming to mitigate time and
cost pressures for designs already in planning at the time of the publication of an update.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_03
Clause 1.16
01 March 2011

Shall the organization submit artwork of all new reproductions of FSC trademarks to
the certification body for approval?
Provided that the organization establishes a good record of correct trademark use, it will not
be necessary to re-submit labels for the same product type or with the same placement on
the product, or for repeated use of promotional artwork.
This clause means in general all new reproductions of FSC trademarks require approval from
certification bodies. However, in the following cases, it is not necessary for certificate holders
to re-submit artwork for approval:
1. A generic format to be approved by certification bodies for certificate holders to use it on a
range of products when the following conditions are met, certification body may opt to approve
a generic format to be used on a range of products:

The organization must have established a good track record of correct trademark use
The label is used on the same product type without any alterations , i.e. any changes to the
label, such as label product type, label color…etc require a further approval
The label remains the same and the exclusion zone around it is respected
Different designs won’t affect the area where the FSC label is placed
2. Repeated use of promotional artwork

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Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_10
Clause 2.3
16 February 2012

Is it possible to display the FSC label inside packaging?
No, the only exemption is when there are legal requirements for the packaging that make the
placement of the FSC label on the outside impossible (e.g. pharmaceutical industry).

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_08
Clauses 2.6 and 2.6.1
31 January 2012

When a product is FSC labeled can it carry marks of other forest certification schemes?
No, the product may not carry marks of other forest certification schemes. It would not be
allowed to double label a product for example.
However in FSC labeled publications such as magazines or printed advertising material the
marks of other certification schemes may be used for product promotion or educational
purposes as long as there are no claims about the paper of the publication being certified
against the other certification scheme.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_04
Clauses 3.3 and 3.3.1
08 November 2011

Can the FSC mini label be used on paper bigger than A5 when the organization's own
mark is smaller than the FSC standard label?
Yes, in cases where the organization's or its sponsor's own mark is smaller than the FSC
standard label and therefore the organization would like to use the FSC mini label instead,
the FSC mini label can be used exceptionally regardless of paper size or of sufficient space
available for the standard label.
Prior approval for the exceptional use of the mini label from Certification Bodies (CBs) is
required.
CBs may approve this exceptional use of the mini label at their own discretion without further
checking with FSC on the ground of size reasons mentioned above.

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Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_05
Clauses 3.3 and 3.3.1
08 November 2011

Can the mini label in a bigger format without standard label text be used on a wine cork
even if there is enough space to include the standard label?
Yes, use of the mini label in a bigger format instead of the standard label on a wine cork is
possible, when it is technically difficult to produce legible standard label text on the rough
surface of the wine cork.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_06
Clauses 3.3 and 3.3.1
08 November 2011

When is the mini label permitted?
1. The mini label may always be used in the following cases:
a.) Paper size A5 or smaller
b.) Packaging 500ml volume or less
2. As for paper size bigger than A5, the standard label should be used when possible. This
means when there is sufficient clear unprinted space available for the standard label, the
standard label should be used. When there is not, the mini label may be used.
NOTE: the area intended for writing or printing on letter templates or postcards is not
considered as clear unprinted space.
3. Certification bodies (CBs) may approve the use of the mini label without checking with FSC
on grounds of space restrictions.
4. The following criteria are provided for CBs to use in judging cases where the mini label is
requested to be used on paper size bigger than A5:
a) Check if the printed piece is fully covered with texts, info, and graphics, and then determine
the area where the label is to be placed on the piece
b) Check if there is printable space available for the standard label in that area without
requiring a redesign
c) If yes, the standard label shall be used
d) If not, the mini label can be used

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_07
Clauses 3.3 and 3.3.1
08 November 2011

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If a product is so small that even the mini label can’t be used, what should I do?
An image of the product including the proposal for incorporating the FSC label should be
submitted to the responsible CB. The CB will then raise this issue with FSC to find a solution.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_18
Clause 4.5
11 April 2014

A supplier may use a third party to produce part of their client’s product even though
the client is not aware of this arrangement. For example, Printer A may request Printer
B to produce glossy covers for a magazine, even though the client X is unaware of
Printer B.
What are the requirements for the agreement of this arrangement when the client
requests their own FSC trademark license code to be applied to the product and it will
be applied by a supplier they are not aware of?
When two Certificate Holders enter into an agreement where the supplier agrees to label the
product with the client’s FSC trademark license code, but the labels are to be applied by an
FSC certified third party whom the supplier wishes to remain anonymous from the client, the
following conditions shall be met:
i) The agreement shall designate the supplier’s certification body as responsible for approval
of product labels and ensuring that the buyer’s code is only used on products which are
supplied to that buyer, and
ii) The third party must keep data relating to the use of the buyer’s labels separately or easily
available for the certification body’s review.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_11
Clause 7.4
07 March 2012

Is it allowed to use the FSC trademarks on business cards?
No, is not allowed as promotional use of the logo is prohibited. In business cards it is not
possible to specify which parts of the operations of an organization the certification refers to.
What is allowed is, when using FSC certified paper, to have the FSC certified printer to put
the mini label at minimum size on the business cards.

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Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_02
Clause 10.11
01 March 2011

Is it possible to add ‘’contents’’ to the list of words for product types?
No, it is not allowed to use “contents” as a product type.
The product types are very general in nature, more of general material types actually, such
as paper, wood, board, rubber etc. For the sake of clarity there are few real product names
included, such as packaging. The intention is to keep the list at a very general level so it is
not allowed to use “contents” as a product type.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_15
Clause 10.13
17 October 2013 (Updated 28 June 2017)

Can an additional statement related to FSC be added within the clear space
surrounding the label (exclusion zone)?
An additional statement clarifying which component of a product is FSC certified may be
added within the exclusion zone. Reference to more information about the FSC label (e.g. the
FSC website address) may be added within the exclusion zone.

Code
Requirement (s)
Publication date

INT-STD-50-001_01
Clause 10.15
01 March 2011

Is it allowed to use a bilingual mini label?
Normally it’s not allowed as the mini label can include only one language due to small size of
the mini label. Only when the following conditions are met, CBs may approve use of a bilingual
mini label:
Governmental or legal requirements due to a multitude languages used in a country.
The product that meets the requirements of using a mini label such as a swing tag, is
distributed in multiple markets that require two major languages to be displayed on the
product.

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